As the Melbourne City players gathered in their changeroom, the Championship trophy was laid flat on the ground in the middle of a huddle, as head coach Aurelio Vidmar addressed his troops.
Vidmar had just overseen the club’s second Isuzu UTE A-League Championship triumph – but before his players and the club staff carried their on-field celebrations into the night, the City coach delivered a three-minute speech that encapsulated the club’s season to perfection.
CITY ARE CHAMPIONS! Historic Melbourne Derby Grand Final ends in heartbreak for Victory
‘THREW ME A LIFELINE’: City captain’s heartfelt tribute after 15-year road to Championship
From injury setbacks, to the rise of academy stars through the middle of the campaign, to a Grand Final win over bitter rivals Melbourne Victory, Saturday night’s 1-0 Championship triumph meant everything to Vidmar, who had nothing but praise and gratitude for the Championship winners that stood before him in the changeroom at AAMI Park.
“First of all, lots of thanks,” Vidmar began.
“The staff, who’ve done an enormous job. Football staff, medical staff, high performance staff, admin, chef, facilities manager, every single person has done an enormous job for us this year.
“Through all the setbacks, what they did was look straight ahead. They never wavered, guys. Not one single person wavered.
“That meant everyone was on the same page, everyone was headed in the same direction. And that’s important.
“Guys in blue: f****** incredible. Absolutely incredible performance this year.
“I remember the first day of pre-season. Sammy (City defender Samuel Souprayen) when we got there on the first day with half a dozen players, Sammy said, ‘Coach, where are the players?’
“I said, ‘Oh, they’re coming!’ And slowly, slowly, we got the foreigners in.”
Vidmar’s speech was then interrupted by the late arrival of Joe Marston Medallist Mathew Leckie into the City changerooms.
The sight of their heroic Socceroo, with his nose heavily bandaged after a gruesome collision in the second half of the Grand Final, evoked raucous cheers from his City teammates.
Leckie walked into the centre of the huddle to spray a bottle of champagne in the air; Vidmar eventually wrestled back control of the changeroom to finish delivering his message to the group.
BEST AFIELD: Mathew Leckie claims Joe Marston Medal in Socceroo star’s crowning A-Leagues moment
“Then we had all those setbacks,” Vidmar continued.
“All the injuries… and we weren’t really sure what was going to happen. All the young kids that came in, had to step up to the plate – and they did, every single one. All of a sudden, we decided to get on a bit of a roll, then the confidence started to grow within the young kids, and they did an enormous job as well.
“All of a sudden, we found ourselves defending the club like I’ve never seen before in my life. Everyone on the same page, the standards were high, everyone focused, fighting, every single day. At the end of the day, guys, that’s the reward you get for all the hard work.
“It’s no fluke, guys, absolutely no fluke. Led incredibly well from your captain and vice captain, Aziz (Aziz Behich) and Lecks (Leckie)
“If you want to do your own thing, it doesn’t work. It’s for the team and always is for the team, guys. And when it is, have a look what happens. There. That’s the reward you get. Incredible, enjoy it.”
Vidmar then walked into the middle of the circle, picked up the Championship trophy, and lifted it aloft with his captain, Behich.
Cue pandemonium in the City changerooms, and the start of a long night of celebrations for the kings of the Isuzu UTE A-League in 2025.
ANALYSIS: 5 things you might have missed from City’s Grand Final win inc. teen talent’s moment of magic
